Strapping machine



y 1966 A. 1... WiNKLE-IR 3,252,408

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwnm. QQMW' afiar/zg y 1966 A. l... WINKLER 3,252,408

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1966 A. L. WINKLER 3,252,408

STRAPFING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1966 L. WlNKLER 3,252,408

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 24, 1966 A. 1... WINKLER 3,252,408

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "Ilh United States Patent 3,252,408 STRAPPING MACHINE Alvin L. Winkler, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Interlake Steel Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,427 12 Claims. (Cl. 100-26) This invention relates to the art of strapping objects with binder straps and particularly relates to production line type strapping apparatus for applying binder straps to objects moved along a conveyor.

When strapping objects moved along a conveyor on a production line setup, it is important that the entire strapping cycle is completed in a minimum amount of time. This permits the assembly line operation to advance at the speed intended and for which it is capable in order to realize the full economies of the production line arrangement.

When applying a binder strap around an object, ordinarily certain basic steps are necessary. The strap must be fed into a strap loop, the strap loop must be encircled around the object, the strap loop must be contracted and tensioned onto the object, a joint must be formed to close the strap loop and secure it onto the object, and the applied strap loop must be sheared from the strap supply.

When the objects being strapped are moved along a conveyor, it is advantageous to strap the objects in location on the conveyor. In order to do so, the binder strap must be guided into an encircling position on the object. One manner of accomplishing this is to employ a closed ring shaped track which can be filled with a loop of strap before or while the track is positioned around the object. In order to allow tree passage of the object, the track must be removed from its encircling position around the object and shifted clear of the path of the object. Experience has shown that the entire strapping cycle cannot keep up with the desired production line speed.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved strapping apparatus for applying binder straps to objects moved along a production line conveyor, said strapping apparatus embodying an improved strap guide track means which is segmented by being divided into movable portions and stationary portions, all portions being aligned to guide the binder strap into a closed strap loop remote of the location of the object .to be strapped, the movable portions then being movable away from the stationary portions to encircle the strap loop around the object, said movable portions being substantially clear of the path of the object to allow passage of the object after it is strapped during the time interval when the movable portions are returned to alignment with the stationary portions in preparation for the nextstrapping cycle.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved strapping apparatus of the type mentioned which has a segmented strap guide track means divided into movable portions and stationary portions, the movable portions being provided with movable strap support means which support intermediate strap loop portions as the movable portions of the strap guide track means are moved away from the stationary portions and thereby provide support for the strap loop throughout the entire strapping cycle.

It is another object to provide such a strapping machine which has a strap guide track means divided into movable portions and stationary portions which allow the strap loop to be formed above the object to be strapped and then cause the movable portions to lower and position the strap loop around the object.

It is still another object to provide such a strapping machine having a strapping mechanism for tensioning the strap and forming a joint between the strap loop ends, whereby the strapping mechanism is movable laterally toward and away from the path of the obejct to be strapped in order to accommodate objects of different sizes and to maintain accurate control of the strap loop as it is shrunk .onto the object during the strap tensioning step.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a' strapping machine as described which has a strap guide track divided into movable portions and stationary portions, the stationary portions being slightly retractable relative to their strap guide positions to allow the strap loop to be moved clear of the stationary portions as the movable portions are moved away from the stationary portions to lower the strap loop around the object to be Strapped.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a strapping machine in which the invention is embodied;

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the coil strapping machine of FIG. 1 except that certain portions of the machine are shown in different positions than as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view a certain distance above the top level of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 viewed in a direction looking downward and particularly shows a plan view of certain strap guide arms and portions of the strap guide mechanism;

FIG. 3a shows a sectional view along the line 3a-3a of FIG. 3 and particularly shows the construction in crosssection of a portion of the strap guide used on the machine;

FIG. 4 shows a view along the line 44 of FIG. 3 and particularly shows certain strap guide mechanism shown at the top of FIG. 3 and the actuating mechanism for it; and I FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and the certain strap guide mechanism of FIG. 4.

The strapping machine 1 in which the invention is shown embodied consists of twobases 2 and 3; the base 2 supports two corner posts 4 and 5 while the base 3 supports two corner posts 6 and 7. An I-beam 8 is connected between the upper ends of the two posts 4 and 5 while another I-beam 9 is connected across the upper ends of the two posts 6 and 7. Mounted between the posts 4 and 6 at their upper ends is another I-beam 10. Similarly mounted between the posts 5 and 7 at their upper ends is another I-beam 11. The carriage 12 is mounted for vertical movement between the posts 4 and 5 and is-supported by two chains 13 and 14 which are driven by means of sprockets at 15 attached to a shaft 16. Likewise, a carriage 17 is mounted for vertical movement between the two posts 6 and 7 and supported by means of two chains 18 and 19 driven by means of two sprockets at 20 secured to the shaft 16. The shaft 16 is driven in one direction or the other by means of a motor 21 suitably mounted on a platform 22 secured to the post 7.

The chains 13 and 14 are connected at their opposite ends to a counterweight 23 which is guided along the post 5. In a similar manner, the opposite ends of the chains 18 and 19 are secured to another counterweight 24 guided along the corner post 7. With this arrangement, rotation of the shaft 16 by the motor 21 in one direction causes both carriages 12 and 17 to be lowered together while rotation of the shaft 16 by the motor 21 in the opposite direction causes both carriages 12 and 17 to be elevated.

The carriage 17 supports a strapping head 25 secured to a frame 26 mounted for movement toward and away frcmthe object to be strapped on the two end plates 17a and .17b of the carriage 17. The strapping head 25 can be of many types, but one particularly suited for such a structure is shown in United States Letters Patent 3,120,- 171, issued February 4, 1964, in .the names of Sidney V. Hettinger, Jr., and Marchand B. Hall. Such a strapping head automatically feeds a length of strap from a supply source, permits the length of strap tobe encircled into a strap loop, automatically shrinks the strap loop onto an object, and secures the overlapping ends of the strap loop together and severs the strap loop from the supply source.

When the carriages 1 2 and 17 are in their upper positions, strap guide 27 secured to the strapping head 25 has its ends aligned with two strap guide segments 28 and 29 supported from the I-beams and 11 in a manner to be described. The strap guide segments 28 and 29 have their ends aligned with the ends of another guide segment 30 mounted on the carriage 12. When all of these strap guide segments are in alignment with each other, as when all parts of the machine are as shown in FIG. 1, the strapping head 25 is adapted to feed a strap in a continuous path through them to form a closed strap loop. Then, when a coil 31 is positioned on a conveyor 32, centrally below the strap guide segments 28 and 29, the carriages 12 and 17 are lowered to lower the strap loop 33 formed by actuation of the strapping head 25 to a position encircling the coil 31.

The strap guides 28 and 29 can be provided with well known releasable means for releasably holding the strap within the guides. Such means commonly includes side portions which are pivoted by either separate power means or by force of the strap being moved to allow withdrawal of the strap from the guides. As shown in FIG. 3a the strap guide 27 is provided with short length top and bottom guide plates 27a which are held in place by means of pins 27b which extend through the guide 27 and support coil springs 27c. Each coil spring 270 reacts between a guide plate 27a and a washer 27d held in place on the pin 27b by means of a locking pin 27e.

-In operation, when the strap forming the strap loop 33 is in the strap guide 27, it is held in place by means of the guide plates 27a which have inwardly turned edges to prevent passage of the strap between them. As the strap loop 33 is withdrawn and shrunk onto the coil 31, the strap is forced against the edges of the guide plates 27a and withdrawn from the guide 27 as the guide plates 27a spread apart as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3a.

The strap then falls free of the guide 27. The other strap guide or strap guide segment 30 is also provided with the same identical strap retaining means as indicated in FIG. 3a for the strap guide segment 27. In this way, both strap guide segments 27 and 30 retain the strap loop temporarily before it is shrunk and secured onto the coil.

Although strap guide segment 27 is secured to the strapping head 25 and the strap guide segment 30 is secured to the carriage 12, the strap guide segments 28 and 29 are provided with hinges 28a and 29a which hingedly connect the guide segments to four vertical support members 101. This permits the guide segments 28 and 29 to be swung from their positions as shown in bold outline to positions as shown in phantom outline in FIG. 1. The purpose of this movement is to permit the strap guide segments 28 and 29 to be clear of the strap loop 33 before the two carriages 12 and 17 are lowered. In order to swing the guide segments 28 and 29 as indicated, approximately the mid-point of each guide segment 28 and 29 is provided with a projection 102 pivotally secured to a yoke 103 by means of a pivot pin 104. The yoke 103 is connected to the outer end of a piston rod I105 of a fluid actuated cylinder 106 which has its rear end pivoted to a block 107 secured to the I-beam 10 or 11. By known means, the piston 105 of the cylinder 106 can be made to either extend or retract to cause actuation of the strap guide segments 28 and '29 as necessary. It can be observed that extension of the piston rod 105 causes a strap guide segment to move to the position of the guide segment 28 or 29 as shown in bold outline in FIG. 1. Retraction of the piston -rod 105 causes a guide 28 or 29 to pivot on the hinges 28a and 29a to move either strap guide segment 28 or 29 away from engagement with the strap loop 33. Both segments 28 and 29 are of the same identical construction. Neither require the construction as shown in FIG. 3a of the other strap guide segments 27 and 30. Instead, they are channelshaped members with the open portion of the channel facing toward the central region of the machine.

The reason for the structure of the strap guide segments 27, 28, 29 and 30 is to permit the strapping head 25 to feed a length of strap into the strap loop 33 defined by the guide members when they are positioned as shown in bold outline in FIG. 1. Before the carriages 12 and 17 are lowered which causes the strap guide segments 27 and 30 to also be lowered, the strap guide segments 28 and 29 must be clear of the strap loop 33. Then, as the strap is tightened and shrunk onto the coil 31, it must be free to pull out from the confines of the strap guide members 27 and 30.

As the strap loop 33 is shrunk onto the coil 31, it continues to be pulled from the guide members 27 and 30 so that progressively less support is provided from the guide members 27 and 30. So that the strap loop 33 will not drop and prevent a proper location of the strap loop on the coil 31, two strap guide arms 34 and 35 are provided on the carriage 12. Arm 34 is pivoted to the carriage 12 by means of a pin 34c while arm 35 is pivoted to the carriage 12 by means of -a pin 36. The inner end of the arm 34 which is pivoted on the pin 340 is provided with a bell-crank lever 37 having a free end journaled on a pin 38 which is connected to the inner end 39 of a fluid actuated cylinder 40. The piston rod 40a of the cylinder 40 is pivoted on a pin 41 to a portion of the carriage 12. In a similar manner, the inner end of the arm 35 which is pivoted on the pin 36 is provided with a bellcrank lever 42 which in turn is pivoted by a pin 43 to the inner end 44 of a fluid operated cylinder 45. The

piston rod 45a of the fluid operated cylinder 45 is pivoted on a pin 46 to a portion of the carriage 12. Although the arms 34 and 35 are positioned to operate at the same level in a single horizontal plane, the mechanism including the fiuid operated cylinders 40 and 45 for operating the arms 34 and 35 are in different planes of operation because they are positioned to overlap each other,

as is evident upon viewing their positions in FIG. 5.

The purpose of the arms 34 and 3'5 is to act as support means for the strap loop 33 while it is being shrunk onto the coil 31. As the strap loop 33 is pulled away from the strap guide segments 27 and 30, without the support of the arms 34 and 35, the strap loop 33 might easily sag out of a horizontal plane and it would then be impossible to properly position the strap loop 33 onto the coil 31 at the proper level.

The arms 34 and 35 are provided with upwardly extending hook portions 34a and 35a at their outer extremities which are strap retainer means used to keep the strap loop 33 from accidentally falling off the ends of these arms 34 and 35.

In operation, the arm 34 is rotated or pivoted on pin 340 as the piston rod 40a of the cylinder 40 is extended by admission of fluid under pressure in a proper direction in the cylinder 40. By reversing the flow of fluid in the cylinder 40, the arm 34 can be actuated in an opposite direction. The action of the arm 34 is accomplished through the movement of the bell-crank lever 37. In a similar manner, the piston rod 45a of the cylinder 45 operates the bell-crank lever 42 to thereby cause movement of the arm 35 on the pin 36 as a pivot. Admission of fluid under pressure in a proper direction to the cylinder 45 accomplishes this. The object of moving the arms 34 and 35, as previously indicated, is to support the strap loop 33 as they strap loop 33 is being drawn out of the strap guide segments 27 and 30. During the operation of the machine, the arms 34 and 35 are moved from their positions as shown in bold outline in FIG. 3 to their positions as shown in phantom outline where their inside portions contact the coil 31 to be strapped. In this way, the upper surfaces 34b and 35b of the arms 34 and 35 provide a flat surface across which the supported portions of the strap loop 33 are slide as the strap loop 33 is contracted onto the coil 31.

Because the arms 34 and 35 are suspended on the carriage 12, as the carriage 12 is raised or lowered, the arms 34 and 35 assume a level with respect to the coil 31 corresponding to the level of the carriage 12.

With reference to the carriage 17, its two end plates 17a and 17b are provided with a plurality of rollers 17c positioned to be guided along the two vertical post members 6 and 7 as the carriage 17 is raised or lowered by means of the chains 18 and 19 driven by the motor 21. These rollers 17c are on the outboard side of the end plates 17a and 17b. On the inner side of these end plates 17a and 17b are additional rollers 17d. These rollers 17d are positioned to guide the frame 26 in the manner of a sliding drawer to permit movement of the frame 26 in a horizontal plane toward or away from the position of a coil 31 to bev strapped. The frame 26 consists of the two side members 26a and 26b which are directly guided by the rollers 17a. The frame also includes a rear brace member 260 and an intermediate double brace member 26d. At the forward portion of the frame 26 is another brace mem ber 26c which directly supports the strapping head 25. With this arrangement, movement of the frame 26 on the rollers 17d toward or away from the coil 31 to be strapped causes the strapping head 25 to be moved between the position as shown in bold outline to a position as shown in phantom outline in FIG. 3. This movement is required in order to permit movement of the strapping head 25 toward the coil 31 as the strap loop is being shrunk and tightened onto the coil 31. In order to actuate the frame 26 and cause its reciprocating movement, a fluid actuated cylinder 47 is provided with its inner end pivoted on a projecting lug 48a secured to the end plate 17a. The cylinder 47 is provided with a piston rod 47a which has its end 47b journaled on a pin 48 to lugs projecting from the frame member 260. With this arrangement, extension of the piston rod 47a causes the frame 26 to be retracted which in turn moves the strapping head 25 away from the coil. Upon retraction of the piston rod 47a, the frame 26 and the strapping head 25 are moved inwardly toward the position of a coil 31 on the conveyor 32.

Just as the carriage 17 is provided with roller for permitting easy movement of the carriage 17 along the vertical support columns 6 and 7, the carriage 12 is also provided with rollers 12a which provide this same facility for the carriage 12 to be moved along the support columns 4 and 5.

To summarize the entire operation of the machine, a coil 31 to be applied with a strap for holding the coil in a tightly wound position is moved along the conveyor 32 to a position centrally beneath the upper frame members 8, 9, 10 and 11 so'that the strap guide segments 27, 28, 29 and 31 are arranged centrally above the coil 31. Prior to the coil 31 arriving in its location for strapping, it is possible to have the strapping head 25 feed a strap loop 33 through the strap guide segments 27, 28, 29 and 30 by feeding a length of strap from a source of supply until the strap loop 33 fills the guides. The retaining means mentioned for the strap guide segments temporarily holds the strap loop 33 in its loop position. Naturally, the springiness of the strap itself helps to retain the strap in the strap loop shape by tending to bow outwardly into the circular loop. Next, the strap guide segments 23 and 29 are retracted clear of the strap loop 33 by actuating the fluid actuated cylinders 106. This pivots the strap guide segments 28 and 29 on their hinges 28a and 29a. As soon as this is acomplished, the carriages 12 and 17 are started to be lowered by actuation of the motor 21. These carriages 12 and 17 lower both the strap guide arms 34 and 35 and also the strapping head 25 along with the lowering of the strap loop 33 which is then held temporarily in the strap guide segments 27 and 30.

Before the strapping head 25 is actuated to shrink the strap loop 33 onto the coil 31 by withdrawing the supply end of the strap from its leading end which is temporarily held in a fixed position, the arms 34 and 35 are pivoted from their positions as shown in bold outline in FIG. 3 to their position as indicated in phantom outline. The movement of these guide arms 34 and 35 to these new positions provides the necessary support for the strap loop 33 required after the strap loop 33 has begun to be shrunk onto the coil 31 by means of strapping head 25. During this time, the strap loop 33, as previously explained, is withdrawn away from the strap guide segments 27 and 30. At or about the same time as the movement of the arms 34 and 35 is begun, the initiation of the strap loop shrinkage can begin. Simultaneously therewith, the strapping head 25 is caused to be moved toward the coil 31 by action of the frame 26 moved by power from the fluid operated cylinder 47. As the strap loop is shrunk by action of the strapping head 25, the strap loop 33 is guided along the arms 34 and 35 which maintains the strap loop at a fixed level during this time.

After completion of the strapping operation, when the strap loop 33 has been snugly secured to the coil 31 with its overlapping strap ends joined together by suitable means incorporated in the strapping head 25, the

strapping head 25 then causes the strap loop 33 to be severed from the supply of strap so that the strapping head 25 is free of the strap loop 33. At this time, the

strapping head 25 can be initiated in its movement away from the coil 31 at the same time that the arms 34 and 35 are again retracted to 'their positions as shown in bold outline FIG. 3. Also, the carriages 12 and 17 can then be started to be elevated to their initial positions as shown in FIG. 1 in preparation for another strapping cycle.

It is at this point that this machine has a very significant advantage. It is possible to quickly move the low inertia arms 34 and 35 clear of the coil 31, even through the elevation of the carriages 12 and 17 necessarily takes considerably more time due to the weight of all of the parts associated with the carriages and their inherent inertia. With the arms 34 and 35 clear of the coil 31, the conveyor 32 is then free to move the coil 31 along the conveyor to aposition beyond the strapping location. This permits another coil to be immediately placed into strapping position and, by the time it is located there, it is usually sufficient time to have the carriages 12 and 17 elevated to their final upward position and have a new strap loop 33 provided through the strap guide segments 27, 28, 29 and 30.

By the use of this split track for guiding the strap, it should be evident that a considerable overlapping of operations is permitted which minimizes the entire strapping cycle. The result is that the number of coils to be strapped can be increased significantly over other presently known methods and the full capability of the assembly line operation speed can be utilized. This is an extremely important advantage for high production assembly line techniques.

There is another important advantage of this arrangement. When the carriages 12 and 17 are lowered to strapping position, only the strap loop portions are in direct line of movement with the coil 31. This is a safety feature because any accidental forward movement of the coil 31 merely moves the coil 31 against portions of the strap loop. On other devices where the entire strap guide is lowered around the coil 31, any accidental movement of the coil 31 at this time would easily lead to damage or even destruction of the strap guide means. dition is obviated by this device.

Although no particular operation of the fluid actuated cylinders mentioned has been indicated, it should be apparent that they can be operated by air or hydraulic fluid under pressure in well known ways. It is possible that each cylinder can be operated from an individual control so that the operating cycle and sequencing is directly under the control of the operator. On the other hand, it is possible to electrically or otherwise sequence the operations of these cylinders in many different ways. Further, although fluid actuated cylinders have been indicated as the devices for powering the various operations of the machine, it should be quite apparent that electric motors or other prime mover devices might be employed with the same advantages.

With respect to the strapping head 25, although it has been described, for example, as of a type shown in United States Letters Patent No. 3,120,171, issued February 4, 1964 to Sidney V. Hettinger, Jr., et al., it is possible to use strapping heads 25 of other construction which are well known in the art.

Further, although the invention has been shown in only one preferred embodiment, it should be clearly understood that the invention can be made in many different ways without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage mounted on said frame for movement from a level above an object on said support means to the level of the object, means for lowering said carriage, said carriage carrying a strapping head of a type with feed means for feeding out a length of strap, strap guide means for guiding the length of strap fed out by the strapping head into a strap loop, said strap guide means including a strap guide segment on said strapping head and a strap guide segment on said frame, said guide segments being in end to end lateral alignment with other portions of the strap guide means to form a closed loop when the carriage is in its elevated position, said strap guide segment on said frame being retractable away from said strap loop to allow the strap loop to be lowered with the strapping head clear of the strap guide segment as the carriage is lowered, and means for driving said strap guide segment on said frame through its retractable movement.

2. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage, a first strap guide means on said carriage means, a second strap guide means on said frame, a strapping means mounted on said carriage means, said strapping means being of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guide means being in end to end lateral alignment with each This conother to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, said power means causing said first guide means and said carriage means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means.

3. The combination defined by claim 2 characterized by, said second strap guide means being retractable so that it can be retracted clear of the closed loop of strap before the carriage means and the first strap guide means are lowered, and means for retracting said second strap guide means through its retractable movement.

4. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, said second strap guide means being retractable so that it can be retracted clear of the closed strap loop before the carriage means and the first strap guide means are lowered, and means for retracting said second strap guide means through its retractable movement, said first strap guide means being divided into two segments and said second strap guide means being divided into two segments, all of said segments being alternately positioned to complete said closed loop.

5. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, a support for supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a strap loop formed from a length of binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement between a first position at a level above an object on said support and a second position at a level with a portion of the object, power means for causing said movement of the carriage means, a first strap guide mounted on said carriage means, a second strap guide mounted on said frame, strapping means mounted on said carriage means, said strapping means being of a type to feed a length of binder strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other in a closed loop when the carriage means is in its first position and also in alignment with the strapping means to receive the length of binder strap endwise from the strapping means, the endwise feeding of the length of binder strap through the two strap guides causing the length to be formed into a strap loop corresponding to the closed loop shape of the aligned strap guides, said second strap guide having a retractable portion which permits the portion of the strap loop it is guiding to be moved away from the second strap guide as the carriage means is lowered with the strapping means, and means for retracting said retractable portion through its retractable movement. 6. The combination defined by claim 5 characterized by, a third strap guide movable into position below the portion of the strap loop guided by the second strap guide to thereby provide support for the lowering strap loop after the strap loop has been moved clear of the second strap guide.

7. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object to be encircle and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, said first strap guide means being divided into two segments and said second strap guide means being divided into two segments, all of said segments being alternately positioned to complete said closed loop.

8. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, "said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, a third strap guide means movable with said carriage means as the carriage means lowers the strap loop, said third strap guide means being further movable to a position to support certain of the same strap loop portions supported by the second strap guide means after the carriage lowers the strap loop clear of the second strap guide means.

9. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, support means for supporting an object of be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame formovement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for'feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to'end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, a third strap guide means movable wtih said carriage means as the carriage means lowers the strap loop, said third strap guide means being further movable to a position to support certain of the same strap loop portions supported by the second strap guide means after the carriage lowers the strap loop clear of thetsecond strap guide means, said third strap guide means being of low inertia to permit' them to be moved quickly into and out of position.

10. The combination in a strapping machine comprising, supportmeans for.supporting an object to be encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a car- 10 riage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop, said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, a third strap guide means movable with said carriage means as the carriage means lowers the strap loop, said third strap guide means being further movable to a position to support certain of the same strap loop portions supported by the second strap guide means after the carriage lowers the strap loop clear of the second strap guide means, said third strap guide means including stop means prising, support means for supporting an object to be a first position above the level of an object on the supr encircled and bound with a binder strap, a frame, a carriage means mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated position at a level above an object on said support means to a lowered position at the level of the object, power means for lowering said carriage means, a first strap guide means adapted to move with said carriage means, and a second strap guide means adapted to remain in substantially the same position with respect to the frame, a strapping means of a type having feed means for feeding a length of strap, said two strap guides being in end to end lateral alignment with each other to form a closed loop when the carriage means is in its elevated position to thereby receive said length of strap fed by said strapping means and guide it into a closed strap loop,

said power means causing said carriage means and said first guide means to be lowered together to lower the closed strap loop clear of said second strap guide means, a third strap guide means including an arm pivotally mounted on said carriage means to pivot between a position clear of the passage of said object toward and away port means being in alignment with a first strap guide means into which strap is fed by the strapping means in order to form the strap loop, said strapping means being movable relative to the frame from said first position above the level of an object on the support means to a second position level with the object, said first strap guide means lbeing substantially fixed relative to the frame so that moving of the strapping means from the first position to the second position causes a strap loopformed by the strapping means to be moved away from the first strap guide means, said first strap guide means releasably containing said strap loop to allow said moving, a second strap guide means being provided to move with the strapping means to support the strap loop after it has moved away from the first strap guide means; said second strap guide means being in end to end alignment with the 1 1 first strap guide means when the strapping means is in 2,972,843 its first position. 3,019,577

' 3,179,037 References Cited by the Examiner 3,216,346

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,563,542 8/1951 Mackelduff 53-198 X 2,797,634 47/1957 Rueckert 10013 2,801,507 8/1957 Claus et a1. 53198 Du Broff 53--74 Slamar et a1. 5374 Cranston et al. 1004 Cruckshank et a1 100-4 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

BILLY J. WILHITE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION IN A STRAPPING MACHINE COMPRISING, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN OBJECT TO BE ENCIRCLED AND BOUND WITH A BINDER STRAP, A FRAME, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FROM A LEVEL ABOVE AN OBJECT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO THE LEVEL OF THE OBJECT, MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID CARRIAGE, SAID CARRIAGE CARRYING A STRAPPING HEAD OF A TYPE WITH FEED MEANS FOR FEEDING OUT A LENGTH OF STRAP, STRAP GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING THE LENGTH OF STRAP FED OUT BY THE STRAPPING HEAD INTO A STRAP LOOP, SAID STRAP GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A STRAP GUIDE SEGMENT ON SAID STRAPPING HEAD AND A STRAP GUIDE SEGMENT ON SAID FRAME, SAID GUIDE SEGMENTS BEING IN END TO END LATERAL ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER PORTIONS OF THE STRAP GUIDE MEAS TO FORM A CLOSED LOOP WHEN THE CARRIAGE IS IN ITS ELEVATED POSITION, SAID STRAP GUIDE SEGMENT ON SAID FRAME BEING RETRACTABLE AWAY FROM SAID STRAP LOOP TO ALLOW THE STRAP LOOP TO BE LOWERED WITH THE STRAPPING HEAD CLEAR OF THE STRAP GUIDE SEGMENT AS THE CARRIAGE IS LOWERED, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID STRAP GUIDE SEGMENT ON SAID FRAME THROUGH ITS RETRACTABLE MOVEMENT. 